Spotted Lake | interesting place

Canada / British Columbia / Oliver /
 lake, interesting place
The scientific term describes this as a saline endorheic alkali lake.

That is a mouthful!

What actually happens with the lake is that it is comprised of many different and highly concentrated minerals. Magnesium, calcium and sodium sulfates are some of the largest minerals included here.

In the summer months most of the lake water evaporates and leaves the minerals behind. These minerals crystallize and large spots begin to appear. The colours will vary as each spot will change as the mineral composition changes at different times throughout the summer.

This colourful lake, known to the first nations people as 'Khiluk', was considered a sacred site. The waters were therapeutic and had healing powers to them. There were even truces made between tribes at war so that the warriors could visit the lake and heal their different wounds.

Another historic fact was that the minerals were used to make ammunition during World War 1!


www.britishcolumbia.com/regions/towns/?townID=3441
www.michaelkluckner.com/bciw3spottedlake.html
www.rayjanko.com/aerials/album_pix_1/46.htm
Wikipedia article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spotted_Lake
Nearby cities:
Coordinates:   49°4'43"N   119°34'0"W

Comments

  • zoom in to see the spots caused by no outflow from the lake, semi-desert climate, and high concentration of dissolved minerals.
This article was last modified 6 years ago